Pivot Stickfigure Animator allows you to create stick figure animations easily, even if you have no artistic skills.
This cool application can be found in snapfiles.com - the app itself is pretty intuitive to use.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Yanko Design
Designer Reindy Allendra has come up with a concept flying machine of the future.
The plane is made of yet-to-be-invented materials and technology that satisfies the needs of consumers in 85 years time.
The Spruce Whale, as it's been named, can also carry an astounding 1,500 people and reach speeds of up to 1,000kmph.
The concept can be found on online magazine Yanko Design which is the home of design ideas both real and ahead of their time.
Full Text Archive
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This site is an archive of books, poems and plays by authors ranging from Anne Bronte to Jules Verne.
Use the search box provided to hunt out a particular work or author, or you can browse the titles alphabetically in a rather clunky fashion.
Skip to the bottom of the homepage if you want to explore the popular files.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Quake Live
Quake is a classic first person shooter game which is completely free on the net.
Before playing, you are put through a skill assessment and training session, so you can be matched up with opponents of a similar level.
There is also a training centre where you can learn additional skills such as rocket and strafe jumping to help give you the edge over opponents.
Rolling Stone
This online conversion of the music magazine has all its great articles, photos and videos.
There is a directory of artists so you can read your favourite rock star's biography, album reviews, photographs and discography.
Users in the US can listen to the playlists of the day - but sadly the magazine's music licence does not extend beyond US borders.
Rotten Tomatoes
This site explores the latest news, reviews and trailers for all new movie releases.
It has a massive database featuring more than a quarter of a million titles.
Plus, its 7 million visitors every month can rate a film using a rating system called "the tomatometer".
Users are encouraged to write reviews, and the site editor brings together the best of them.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Twit TV
Twit.tv, which stands for This Week in Tech.tv, is the definitive destination for technology addicts.
Here you will find what I consider to be one of the best, most entertaining podcasts on the subject of tech.
And let's face it, technology news doesn't exactly have the reputation of being good material for comedy.
It's a spin off from the now defunct TechTV and features the same hosts that made that channel such a cult hit.
You can download the podcast for free or just listen to it online on the website.
If you click the Live tab you experience these super geeks in their natural habitat watching the shows being recorded.
Altogether a well thought out and entertaining variety of shows.
World's Healthiest Foods
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There is something slightly disturbing about launching a website to find that the food of the day is proudly announced as cabbage.
What I've found is that it really is incredibly good for you, as explained on this site.
As well as recipes and ideas involving the so-called superfoods - which are said to keep you fit and healthy - you can visit the food adviser for tips on how to improve your intake and work towards living a healthier lifestyle.
Lookbook
This original community-driven website is where all the most chic and underground fashions the world over are laid bare.
The idea here is that members of the site post their latest fashion looks while the rest of the community gets to comment and "hype up" the looks they like.
There are some truly remarkable styles to be seen here as they come from every corner of the globe from people with all different types of background.
Quite a change from the usual magazine glossy spread filled with carbon copy models.
Unusually, this website offers registration by invitation only. This is perhaps designed to keep the riff raff out and the stylish in, as you can't post without registering.
For the rest of us mere mortals, it is a great place to browse for ideas and inspiration.
Yuuguu
This site is one of a number of integrated instant messenger platforms on the web.
They allow users of multiple clients to link up and share data and screen time from a single application.
This a brilliant interface based on Java which makes it incredibly easy to meet, present and collaborate in virtual space.
The software works for PCs, Macs and even using Linux. It is all pretty intuitive and familiar if you're accustomed to messenger applications.
One really cool feature is Web Share where participants don't even need the software installed to join your session.
Instead they access it through the Yuuguu website using a Flash based screen - though small delays could be experienced when viewing a presentation in this way.
Yuuguu is free for up to 100 minutes per month for five users in one session.
If that is not enough you can host up to 30 users for unlimited minutes if you don't mind shelling out $15 (£9) a month.
It is a small price to pay for so many collaboration tools and options and certainly one of the cheapest I've seen on the market.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Bembo's Zoo
This page is super fun, it is home to Bembo's Zoo - an ABC of animals all created using the letters and punctuation from the animal's name.
Just click on a letter and the animal-animation begins as you watch the creature come to life from the jumbled up word.
It is bright and colourful with added atmosphere from a kooky sound file attached to each sequence.
This page is not only modern and well designed, it's also very educational. I hope old and young will enjoy it on many different levels.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Putiton
Putiton is a portal where creative people from four disciplines - art, music, fashion and films - can showcase their work and perhaps even sell it.
Registration is free and you get one gigabyte of space to upload your portfolio. Artists can stream audio and video and even make live broadcasts to their fans.
If you are not an artist yourself there is plenty to be gained by visiting these pages. You can browse all the content by category, offering support and encouragement to those acts which impress you.
Pixlr
Pixlr.com is a photo editing tool.
It is similar in functionality to Photoshop Express with all of the basic features you would expect - such as brightness and contrast, hue and saturation, crop and rotate.
This is a lightweight, effective and free application - and the package itself is Flash based so requires no installation. Just open up the website, click the link to begin creating and dive straight in.
When you have finished, simply save your work onto your own computer - no registration is needed.
WATZATSONG
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Do you ever get a song stuck in your head - going round and round, and you cannot quite put your finger on what it was? Or perhaps you have heard a snippet of something on a website and want to hear more?
Watzatsong as the name suggests is all about putting names and artists to the tunes that are flying around in our heads.
Once registered, just record a snip of the song that has you stumped (whether you choose to sing it yourself or record it from wherever you heard it, the choice is yours) and wait for the suggestions to come rolling in.
Twitgoo
This is the place to go if you want to upload your pictures straight to twitter. No mess, no fuss, just sign in with your twitter account details and send.
You can upload from your own hard drive, and a link to your picture will appear instantly in your twitter feed. If you want to connect using a mobile phone or from an email address on the go then you will need to add the contact details to your account settings.
Then you simply email the picture to the address provided and hey presto - your pictures will be uploaded to twitgoo.
If you don't have anything to upload yourself, it is worth visiting the site to have a look at what other people are doing. Just sit on the public page and take in the sights that are being published. There seems to be a new picture added every few seconds - who knows what you might find?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Kids' Click
The web is a wonderful place for children to explore and learn - but as any net-savvy parent will tell you, there is plenty to be worried about out there as well.
Kidsclick.org is a site created by librarians that aims to allay our concerns by providing a search engine of content that is suitable for younger surfers.
The site covers more than 600 subjects, from health to sports & the arts.
Instead of using spiders and search bots to sniff out the content like regular search engines, this content is all human-filtered - so you can be sure that the results you get back will be age-appropriate.
Simon's Cat
The cutest cartoon on the Internet. You might have seen one or two of these films doing the viral rounds, but there is plenty more to look at if you head to simonscat.com.
As well as the films you can link to Simon's Cat on Facebook and Twitter, and view a gallery of pictures submitted by visitors to the site.
The website design is in perfect harmony with the content. Not only is this a cat lovers' heaven but even those who do not like cats will get a kick out of it.
The author of these cartoons has managed to capture the idiosyncrasies of our feline companions so brilliantly it will not fail to melt your heart.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Cool Capitals
On this site there are travel guides, reviews and advice about travelling to five European cities: Amsterdam, Antwerp in Belgium, Valencia in Spain, Vienna and Zurich.
The site has a funky user interface and cute pixel art animated maps - it is a real shame the content is limited to just five cities.
But the five cities covered are reported in great detail, with maps, photos, restaurant and entertainment guides, and some videos.
Some people have complained about their browser being resized by this site, but mine did not, so it may be an issue related to browser versions.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Gamenet.com/game/jellybattle
At Gamenet.com you will find enough funky and freaky little flash games to keep you occupied for decades, but the one that has captured my imagination is to be found under the popular games section - Jelly Battle.
On its own as a single player game this is totally addictive, but it is when you choose multi-player and are pitted against other users of the site that it comes into its own.
It is a bit like a high-tech version of battleships crossed with tetris. You have to hop about the playboard picking up bonuses and weapons to use against your opponents. Last man, or rather last jelly standing, wins.
No registration is required, and you can even chat to the players you are duelling. Do not forget to make your move in time or you could find yourself standing on a land mine.
Runpee.com
Is there ever a good time to run to the bathroom in the middle of a movie? According to Runpee.com, there is.
With the latest releases listed on the homepage, if you are heading out to the cinema tonight you can log on here first and check when is a good time to "go".
There is a helpful graphic timeline with pee-spots marked and triggers supplied. There is even an explanation of what you will be missing in the box below, though you need to click "unscramble" to read it as there are obviously spoilers included.
Print out the timeline, or if you want to get really serious about your bathroom habits and you have an iPhone, you can download the app from iTunes for 59p in the UK, though I am not sure that having a pee calculator on your handset is the smartest thing to tell your mates about.
Maps of War
The creators of Mapsofwar.com are clearly fascinated by how various historical events linked to the act of war are connected. To show these connections they have made a number of flash animation maps.
There are a couple of examples on the opening page, but you can click "maps" to get the full listing. It is really interesting to see the way world events have played out and it only took a couple of minutes. The maps are nicely made and really clear - even for the non-history buff.
As well as having its own selection of maps, if you click the link to the library section you will find links to many other maps of war from all over the web.
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Quote Blog
This is a good blog to bookmark for anyone wanting a library of smart things to say.
The "interesting quotes by interesting people" section has picked up some nuggets from an eclectic group of celebrities.
But there are also quotes from famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Ernest Hemingway, Aristotle, and Socrates among others.
360Cities
There are thousands of stunning 360 degrees images from across the globe on 360cities.net, including many of the best tourist attractions.
Take a look at the editor's picks and the most popular posts on the site's homepage.
To find a more specific destination, click on the world map which has an interface similar to Google Earth.
Users can also embed their own images for non-commercial use.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
MyHandle
Myhandle.com lets users set up a one-stop e-mail address for various e-mail accounts.
After registering a handle, users need to sync it up with their accounts and invite people to join their network.
This forwarding service sends all mail to one place, so it does not matter how many times someone changes their e-mail address.
doubleTwist
doubleTwistThis site has an application that allows users to store, organise and sync files on a range of devices, such as a BlackBerry, iPod and MP3 players.
Once the software has been downloaded to a PC, just plug the device in and select your syncing options - files can also be shared with others.
This software is currently in public beta, but the creators say the standard features will remain free even after the beta period has closed.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Cyber Mentors
The Internet can be a worrying place for children, especially when you hear stories about online bullying.
Cyber Mentors is a UK charity and a community where children can get support and advice from other children, as well as trained professionals - whether they are experiencing problems online or out in the physical world.
The young volunteers who make up the cyber mentor fellowship have all been trained by the charity to be children's first port of call if they feel they cannot talk about their problems with a grown-up.
They will support and encourage youngsters - urging them to go to a parent or teacher - but there are also councillors available to deal with any serious issues.
Since the site went live a few months ago they have helped 70,000 children, and have just trained up their 1,000th volunteer.
Users need to register to talk to a mentor, and they do ask for some details about your mobile phone, which the site's creators say is not used for marketing purposes - just their own internal research.
The Art of DeTouch
The media is often criticised for presenting a distorted view of society with fashion magazines and Sunday supplements crammed with images of impossibly beautiful people.
But they are not as perfect as they look.
DeTouch.org lays bare the tricks and cheats used in photographic publishing, showing you what those picture perfect models looked like before the touch-up artist got involved.
Drawing from a number of online sources where before and after photographs are displayed, this site uses an open source tool called Processing to compare the images pixel by pixel and generate visualizations of the alterations.
Waists are sucked in, chests pumped out. Lines and shadows smoothed and removed.
There is even one lady who has had an eye shifted up - all in the pursuit of creating the illusive perfect beauty.
Physorg
Physorg.com has the latest breaking news from the world of physics, space, technology, nanotechnology, chemistry and biology.
The opening page highlights recent news stories, while specific key topics are listed across the top.
There are stories here to cater to every taste, from news about the refurbishment of the Hubble Telescope to information about the latest developments in the world of consumer technology.
If you would rather watch video content, it can be found just under the search box.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Ustream
On Ustream.tv anyone can broadcast themselves for free.
But you will need to give the site permission to access your webcam and microphone, and you can even broadcast from a mobile device.
There is the option to interact with other viewers and embed your video into a website or blog.
The usual caveats about user-generated and unmoderated content apply - if you find something you do not like, just move along or report it.
Shelfari
Shelfari.com hosts a global community of book lovers who are more than happy to share their reviews of good and bad reads with others.
Once signed up, you can start adding the books you have already read, are currently reading, or plan to read in the future.
The site offers a graphical representation of a bookshelf and organises your titles into helpful categories.
Like other networking sites, you can join groups, start your own, and gradually expand your web of contacts.
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